New Year, New Legislation

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The new year comes with a new Idaho Legislative Session. Our policy team and I will be hard at work tracking and sharing each bill that is relevant to nonprofits. How can you be involved and advance your mission this year? 
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Kevin Bailey, CEO, Idaho Nonprofit Center

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1. Attend the Jan. 10 webinar for quick and easy ways to advocate 
2. Follow this space every other week to read the latest Legislative Watch
3. The bill tracker is updated weekly as we monitor proposals
4. View our current policy agenda for issues we'll cover
5. Reach out to us if an important issue arises for us to work on
6. If a potential bill will advance or hurt your mission, consider testifying in front of the House and/or Senate for your voice to be heard. Remote testimony is also frequently available.
7. When sign-on letter opportunities are available, consider adding your nonprofit’s name to increase the collective voice of the sector 

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The next Idaho Legislature session begins on Monday, Jan. 9. To stay up to date on what is happening in the 2023 Legislation and for more information, visit legislature.idaho.gov.
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• House and Senate Committee Agendas
• Live audio/video streaming of sessions

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​“The $1.7 trillion spending package President Biden signed into law shortly before the New Year left the biggest item on charities’ legislative agenda out…” 
 
– the Chronicle of Philanthropy 
It’s not all disappointing news, for nonprofits in housing, nutrition, and child care there are some spending provisions that may positively impact your budget.

We will keep you updated on all progress regarding charitable/donor incentives.

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​What Happened Last Year? The Center works on advocacy not only during the Idaho session but year-round. Here are a few highlights from the tail end of 2022.

• Statewide Nonprofit Advocacy Coalition: We have built and begun convening a strong group of nonprofit executives and stakeholders providing a unified voice for the sector. Their main goals are to build better relationships with state and federal legislators for more efficient communications that allows nonprofits to solve the key problems facing our communities. Nonprofits deserve a seat at the table.
  
  
• Mileage for Volunteers: We recently ​signed on to a national letter with the National Council of Nonprofits, Independent Sector, and Meals on Wheels USA asking the Senate to take action on the charitable volunteer mileage rate. This rate hasn't been updated since it was fixed at 14 cents per mile in 1997. The business rate is 62.5 cents.
  
  
• State of the Sector: Every corner of the state has an organization maintaining and building beautiful communities that contribute to the overall success of our collective home. ​This four-part report illustrates the benefits of nonprofits and the need to support Idaho's 9,000+ registered nonprofit organizations.​

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Stay Connected

• Idaho Public Television offers Idaho In Session, a gavel-to-gavel service that includes live on-air and online coverage of the Idaho Legislature.
  
  
• You can also stay up to date on the latest legislative news on Idaho Reports, IdahoPTV’s weekly broadcast.
  
  
• Is there a state agency that relates to your mission? You can now search and find information pertaining to all state-affiliated commissions' public meetings at       Townhall Idaho.

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